Vest to Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

consists of (1) a thoracic top belt (2) a waist bottom belt, each belt having provision of independent tightening (3) an elastic band connecting both belts, thus making a single vest and (b) a plurality of one to two turn-buckles used in two different embodiments. 
     The turn buckle integrally but detachably positioned against the top belt and bottom belt provides upward lifting force to the thorax via the top belt and the downward force to the lumbar via the bottom belt, providing the decompression and traction to the spine,

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to an under-garment or an over-garment wearable apparatus for use by (1) patients suffering from various spinal diseases which are treated by a mechanical spinal decompression method and (2) persons who want to support and protect the spine from injury during spinal load bearing activities. The apparatus can be used during different positional status of the user; standing, walking, running, sitting, lying, and changing positions such as, from squatting to standing and vice versa. The decompression and the traction to the spine can be used by the user without any help from others. Presently, there is no vest apparatus or method available for use during different positional status of the user mentioned above.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

About 80 percent of adults experience lower back pain (LBP) at some point in their lifetimes. About 20 percent affected by acute LBP develop chronic LBP with persistent symptoms at one year. In 2010, a study ranked LBP as the third most burdensome conditions in the U.S. in terms of mortality or poor health, only ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranking higher. Back pain is the #2 reason adults visit doctors and #1 reason for orthopedic visits. Each year 13 million people go to the doctor for chronic back pain which leaves 2.4 million Americans chronically disabled and another 2.4 million temporarily disabled. Bulging and herniated discs, central and foraminal stenosis, epidural lipomatosis, hypertrophies of the facet joints and ligament a flava, to name a few only are the main reasons of LBP for many people. Back pain is a worldwide problem.

The inventor has been suffering from the LBP for sometime caused by diseases including bulging disc, low grade anterolisthesis, central and bi-lateral foraminal stenosis, lipomatosis, hypertrophy of facet joints and ligament a flava. He was advised spinal decompression physical therapy; underwent the therapy and got temporary relief. During the therapy, he lied flat on his back on a table top bed, his chest was restrained from movement by a belt wrapped around and tied to the table, while another belt wrapped around his lumbar was pulled by a motorized cable exerting a tensile force on the spine. This device is big and only usable under restricted conditions. Intermittent but regular use of decompression and traction is presently not very practical, because each time the patients who do not have home traction device have to go to physical therapists. Besides, home traction devices are big and not readily usable. Present invention is a vest which contains an embedded detachable decompression and traction device in it and a means to measure the force of decompression and traction.

The use of lumbar supports in the form of wide elastic bands which can be tightened to provide support to the lower back and abdominal muscles to prevent low back pain is widespread. These lumbar supports are not very useful because of lack of strength and their inability to (1) share a large portion of downward axial loads imposed on the spine and (2) provide decompression relief whoever wants it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems outlined above are in large measure solved by the “Vest to Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use” in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, an equipment and method of its use are developed to provide decompression and traction to the spine to relieve the pressure on the spine in general, and its components such as nerves, nerve roots, discs, vertebrae and facet joints in particular. Decompression which means reduction of compressive load on the spine and its components allow more space to be created within the spinal foramens and inter vertebral discs. So, decompression gives relief for many patients. However, since no decompression device is presently available for use as and when and where desired, many patients cannot take advantage of the relief decompression gives. Many people who routinely lift weights for a living, recreation, exercise or as a necessity do not have adequate protection against spine injury.

Turn buckle and screws are mechanical devices which are widely used for creating both tension and compression loads. The present invention uses the property of a screw particularly a turn buckle, a type of screw to partially solve a big health problem of the world. The invention consists of a vest containing an upper belt called the first section of the vest, a lower belt called the second section of the vest, one turn buckle in the first embodiment (or two turn buckles in the second embodiment) and a force measuring weighing balance.

The first embodiment is described as follows. The upper belt is positioned and tightened on the thorax passing through the arm pits, the lower belt is positioned and tightened on the waist line just above the sacrum. The back of the upper belt which is positioned on the scapula of the user has a pocket to hold in position a first round curved cylinder, integrally and perpendicularly attached to the top end of the top rod of the turn buckle. The back of the lower belt which is positioned on the sacrum of the user also has a pocket to hold in position a second round curved cylinder, integrally and perpendicularly attached to the bottom end of the bottom rod of the turn buckle. The turn buckle (or a screw) is integrally but detachably positioned vertically with the top end of the top rod of the turn buckle in the pocket of the upper belt and the bottom end of the bottom rod of the turn buckle in the pocket of the lower belt, such that the axis of the turn buckle is parallel to the axis of the spine. The top end of the top rod of the turn buckle is integrally and perpendicularly attached to a first round curved cylinder to distribute the tensile force imposed by the turn buckle on the thorax to a wider area. The first round curved cylinder is tightly held in position within the pocket outside of the first section of the vest. Similarly, the bottom end of the bottom rod of the turn buckle is integrally and perpendicularly attached to a second round curved cylinder to distribute the tensile force imposed by the turn buckle on the lumbar to a wider area. The second round curved cylinder is tightly held in position within the pocket outside of the second section of the vest. The force measuring device is integrally but detachably tied between the two ends of the turn buckle in such a manner that zero reading is adjusted for each user depending on the physical dimensions of the user and distance between the first section and the second section. With both upper and lower belts tightened, the turn buckle positioned and the force measuring device tied and adjusted to zero, the turn buckle is then turned to start inserting upward force on the upper belt of the vest and downward force on the lower belt of the vest. The amount of tensile force imposed on the spine by the turn buckle is measured by the force measuring device. It is clearly evident that the spine is subjected to tensile force thus making the decompression possible. The tensile force can be self adjusted by the user.

The invention is expected to save substantial amount of healthcare money worldwide both at personal and government levels and prevent future spine injuries by providing support and protection against weight lifting activities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic Plan View of Vest to Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use, as viewed from the back of the user and

FIG. 2 is a schematic Cross-Sectional View along X-X line of FIG. 1 of Vest to Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use, as viewed from the left side of the user

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, Vest to Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use, for providing tensile force to spine (decompression and traction) and to enhance the load carrying capacity of the spine and provide additional insurance to the spine against injury during load carrying operations without hurting the spine; in accordance with the invention broadly includes a vest 10; the first section 120 of the vest 10; the second section 130 of the vest 10; the third section 140 of the vest 10; the turn buckle 150; the top end of the top rod 153 of the turn buckle 150; the bottom end of the bottom rod 154 of the turn buckle 150; the first round curved cylinder 155; the second round curved cylinder 156; the pocket 200 outside of the first section 120 of the vest 10; and the pocket 210 outside the second section 130 of the vest 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first section 120 of the vest 10, the second section 130 of the vest 10, the third section 140 of the vest 10, the pocket 200 outside of the first section 120 of the vest 10, and the pocket 210 outside of the second section 130 of the vest 10 collectively and integrally constitute the vest 10. The major materials the vest 10 is made of are strong synthetic fabrics similar to college back packs and air plane travel luggage. All the parts of the vest 10 are stitched together to make the vest 10 with strong twines durable and strong enough to withstand at least 100 lbs per square inch of pressure.

The turn buckle 150 is made of hard materials including but not limited to ordinary steel and plastics, and should have a size capable of withstanding a maximum of 100 lb force on the each of the two screw rods, designated as the top rod 151 and the bottom rod 152. The top end 153 of the top rod 151 is integrally and perpendicularly attached to a first round curved cylinder 155 to distribute the tensile force imposed by the turn buckle 150 on the thorax to a wider area. The bottom end 154 of the bottom rod 152 is integrally and perpendicularly attached to a second round curved cylinder 156 to distribute the tensile force imposed by the turn buckle 150 on the lumbar to a wider area.

During the use of the vest 10, the user positions the vest 10 such that the first section 120 rests against the thorax with the top of this section resting against the arm pits, and the second section 130 rests against the waist line with the bottom of this section resting against approximately in the middle of sacrum bone. After appropriately positioning the vest 10 on the torso, the first section 120 is firmly tightened to keep slippage of the first section to a minimum by using the Velcro provided in the first section. After appropriately positioning the vest 10 on the waist, the second section 130 is also tightened to keep the slippage of the second section to a minimum by using the Velcro provided in the second section. The third section 140 of the vest 10 is meant to connect the first and the second sections together into a single vest to make the vest easy to use, and is made of elastic material to allow movement of the first and second section with respect to each other.

After wearing and tightening the vest, the turn buckle 150 is positioned on the back side of the vest in parallel with the spine, with the top end 153 of the top rod 151 and the curved cylinder 155 inside the pocket 200 and with the bottom end 154 of the bottom rod 152 and curved cylinder 156 inside the pocket 210.

The force measuring device 300 is integrally but detachably tied between the two ends 153 and 154 of the turn buckle 150 in such a manner that device reads zero force after the vest is appropriately positioned on the torso. With the vest 10 tightened, the turn buckle 150 positioned and the force measuring device 300 tied; the turn buckle 150 is then gradually turned to start inserting upward force on the first section of the vest and downward force on the second section of the vest. The amount of tensile force imposed on the spine by the turn buckle is measured by the force measuring device 300. It is clearly evident that the spine is subjected to tensile force thus making the decompression and traction possible. The amount of applied tensile force can be self adjusted by the user. 

I claim:
 1. A Vest to “Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use” comprising: a vest having three sections, (1) the first section, like a wide belt that can be independently and firmly tightened around the top portion of the thorax with the superior part of the first section positioned at the level of the arm pits; (2) the second section, like a wide belt that can be independently and firmly tightened around the waist and with the inferior part of the second section positioned just at the top of the sacrum; (3) the third section, an elastic section in the middle of the first and the second sections, connecting the first and second sections thus making all three sections into a single vest; a plurality of one to two screw mechanisms such as turn-buckles used in two different embodiments; in the first embodiment, only one turn buckle, termed central turn buckle is used and positioned parallel to the central line of the spine on the medial axis of the torso covering thorax and lumbar section of the back of the user's body, the top of top rod of the central turn buckle is positioned integrally but detachably in an outside pocket of the vest at the top of thoracic vertebrae and the bottom of the bottom rod of the central turn buckle is positioned integrally but detachably in an outside pocket of the vest slightly below the lowest lumbar vertebra just above the sacrum; in the second embodiment, two turn buckles are used; (1) right turn buckle positioned integrally but detachably in between the right arm pit and top of the right side of sacrum; top end of the right turn buckle contained in a pocket in the first section of the vest under the right arm pit; and the bottom end of the right turn buckle contained in a pocket in the second section of the vest just above the right side of sacrum, (2) left turn buckle positioned integrally but detachably in between the left arm pit and top of the left side of sacrum; top end of the left turn buckle contained in a pocket in the first section of the vest under the left arm pit; and the bottom end of the left turn buckle contained in a pocket in the second section of the vest just above the left side of sacrum; a force measuring balance such as a spring balance integrally but detachably tied between the top end of the top rod of the turn buckle and the bottom end of the bottom rod of the turn buckle;
 2. Method of use of the “Vest to Provide Decompression and Traction for Spine and Method of Use”, comprising: (a) wearing the vest with the first section of the vest appropriately covering the top portion of the thorax with the superior part of the first section passing through the two arm pits; (b) wearing the vest with the second section of the vest around the waist with the inferior part of the second section positioned just at the top of tho sacrum; (c) tightening the first section very firmly such that slippage, if any occurs at a minimum level during when the turn buckle is tightened and tightening the second section very firmly such that slippage, if any occurs at a minimum level during when the turn buckle is tightened; (d) positioning the turn buckle in the back of the user with the axis of the turn buckle parallel to the axis of the spine with the turn buckle being held by one pocket in the first section of the vest and the other pocket in the second section of the vest; (e) turning the turn buckle in the appropriate direction to exert decompression force on the spine first, by users own hands or by an appropriate turning tool, such as a wrench; (f) measuring the amount of force on the spine by the force measuring device. 